Consultant - Training of Service Providers for Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) at Save The Children

Background

• Every year, about six million children die globally before they reach their fifth birthday, many during the first year of life (UNICEF, 2016). Half of these deaths are due to acute respiratory infections, diarrhoea, measles, malaria, malnutrition; or often to a combination of these conditions which are largely preventable and treatable conditions
• The risk of a child dying before completing five years of age is highest in the WHO African Region (81 per 1000 live births), about 7 times higher than in the WHO European Region (11 per 1000 live births) according to statistics from WHO (2005). Various factors bordering on socioeconomic determinants of health have been proposed as possible underlying factors for these outcomes. Reducing these inequities across countries and saving more children’s lives by ending preventable child deaths are therefore important priorities
• As part of efforts to address these challenges, Save the Children with funding from GSK is currently building the capacity of frontline health workers in the delivery of MNCH interventions
• The project aligns with the National Strategic Health development plan (2010–2016), the Integrated Management of Maternal, New-born and Child Health Strategy (IMNCH) 2013, and IMCI and ICCM guidelines and implementation strategies
• The IMCI guidelines which was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) promotes prompt identification of childhood illnesses in the outpatient settings and provides appropriate treatment and referrals when necessary
• The guideline also helps to improve the quality of care of sick children at the referral level by providing an effective link between the care provided at the community and the management approach in the facility and promotes the rational use of resources.

Purpose of Activity

• The purpose of this activity is to build the capacity of frontline health workers across Secondary health facilities in Kaduna state on IMCI.

Objective

• To build/strengthen the capacity of health workers to manage common childhood illnesses at secondary heath care facilities in Kaduna state.

Specific Tasks
The specific tasks for the consultants to include:

• Review of the current FMoH IMCI course guide and materials for training health providers in order to ensure the incorporation of new-born care component (first week of life);
• Review current facilitator guide for IMCI and adapt accordingly;
• A representative of the FMOH should participate/be involved in the review of IMCI training materials. Note: Process for formalisation and approval of revised training materials by FMOH will be done at later date;
• Advise Save the Children on the selection criteria of participants to be trained;
• Plan and conduct a 6-day IMCI course for the participants from Kaduna;
• Identify with help of MNCH Advisor and /State Focal person for MNCH appropriate practicum sites for IMCI training;
• Prepare a follow up plan of the service providers for IMCI that would have been trained;
• Conduct a follow up for the trained providers to ensure proper use of training skills they learnt while on the job;
• Debrief with programme staff in Kaduna;
• Prepare and submit a draft summary report of the activity not later than one week after the completion of the activity.

Methodology

• An IMCI objective-structured clinical assessment checklist will be used in the conduct of a Training Needs Assessment. All the secondary health facilities would be visited and the assessment checklist administered to assess the skills gap observed. The gaps observed would be used in the design of the training intervention;
• The training will be led by a Lead Consultant along with 5 other resource persons (including the MNCH Advisor);
• The participants will be trained for 6 days on IMCI with mixed classroom sessions and practical sessions;
• The IMCI chart booklet and exercise booklets would be used as manuals and materials for the training;
• The training will involve the use of low technology and highly effective teaching methods: simulation, role play, drills, skills practice and practical demonstration amongst others. The training would be a combination of both classroom and practical sessions with participants scheduled to visit selected hospitals for the practical sessions. The training will also be conducted using mannequins for practice;
• Pre-test and Post-test evaluation would be used in assessing knowledge gained by trainees;
• Facilitators would conduct a post-training follow-up and supportive supervision to facilities where selected health workers have been trained within 6-8 weeks of the training.

Expected Output
By the end of the assignment the following outputs will be expected:

• Trained health workers with knowledge and skills to assess and classify the sick child;
• Trained health workers with enhanced skills in identifying common childhood illness at the facility level;
• Trained Health workers with skills in managing common childhood illnesses using the IMCI guidelines;
• Trained Health workers with adequate knowledge and skills in counselling the mother;
• A comprehensive report of the Training reports developed by the consultants and shared with SCI office.

Type of Consultants Required

• The desired Consultant should be an experienced Paediatrician (a fellow of West African Medical College/NPMCN) with a minimum of 5 years’ post-fellowship experience;
• He/she should have undertaken a TOT course on IMCI;
• He/she should be able to mobilize 4 other facilitators (Doctors/Midwives) with a minimum of 5 years’ experience as well as experience in the delivery of IMCI training;
• Experienced facilitators of IMCI training;
• Familiarity with SCI reporting systems in conducting consultancy will be an added advantage.